Manufacturing firearms for personal use and selling lowers in Pennsylvania.

Jurisdiction
Pennsylvania
There is a lot to this... 1st let me say I'm more concerned about possible constitutional right violations than anything else. I don't actually make my own guns or sell lowers. However I posted on Reddit in related groups that I was doing both. I was doing research I like to talk things out and experience tells me people generally respond more to someone who seems to know what they're talking about through first hand experience over simply reading about it and watching videos related to it. So I lied and exaggerated posted pics of airsoft pistols I printed claiming they was real. I already know all the issues in all that. Now my concern is that off a tip from a reddit user who believed these activities were illegal which they are not a important distinction. Calls the FBI and they actually show up at my door! Asking me questions. For them to even get my identity they had to Trace my IP so my question; at this point before they know who I am do they even have legal justification to obtain my identity. Nothing I posted was illegal with in its self.
I've since deleted all related post/comments not trying to hide anything but to prevent another idiot perceiving my activity as illegal and reporting it. I know I did not actually break any laws so I'm not worried about any possible charges just the possible constitutional rights violation.
 
Calls the FBI and they actually show up at my door! Asking me questions.

That's odd. The BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms) is charged with firearms related crimes and enforcement.


These folks = ATF = Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives |

By the way, have you overlooked the following?

>>>>===========

Fifth Amendment

The Fifth Amendment creates a number of rights relevant to both criminal and civil legal proceedings. In criminal cases, the Fifth Amendment guarantees the right to a grand jury, forbids "double jeopardy," and protects against self-incrimination. It also requires that "due process of law" be part of any proceeding that denies a citizen "life, liberty or property" and requires the government to compensate citizens when it takes private property for public use.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

 
do they even have legal justification to obtain my identity

Yes.

You created a reasonable suspicion that a crime may be in progress.

Nothing I posted was illegal with in its self.

Have you memorized the thousands of federal and state firearms laws?

I did not actually break any laws so I'm not worried about any possible charges just the possible constitutional rights violation.

Another one with "constitutional rights." Sigh.

Are you one of those people that walk around carrying an AR-15 to conduct recorded police response "audits"?
 
There is a lot to this... 1st let me say I'm more concerned about possible constitutional right violations than anything else.
You lack a very important piece of information, which is the process the FBI used to identify you. There is no way to determine if any of your civil rights were violated without that information. Depending on the information the FBI had and how willing Reddit is to give the FBI the information it asked for without a warrant there are at least several ways the FBI may legally have obtained your information. Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that your civil right were violated there isn't much that you can do about it. All the FBI did was come to your home to ask some questions. You suffered no harm from that for which the law would give you any compensation. In short it boils down to a sort of "no harm, no foul" situation.

You might want to consult an attorney who practices in the area of civil rights and specifically the 2nd Amendment. There are a lot of gun laws, federal, state, and local, in this country. You won't know if what you outlined in the videos would amount to any crime if you actually did it until you've studied the applicable statutes, regulations, and court decisions. Given the severity of punishment attached to most crimes related to guns it's a good idea to consult an attorney so that you know exactly what you can and can't do in your state and locality. Paying a fee for the consultation will be well worth it if the advice spares from the consequences of doing something that you thought was legal but turned out to be illegal.
 
You lack a very important piece of information, which is the process the FBI used to identify you. There is no way to determine if any of your civil rights were violated without that information. Depending on the information the FBI had and how willing Reddit is to give the FBI the information it asked for without a warrant there are at least several ways the FBI may legally have obtained your information. Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that your civil right were violated there isn't much that you can do about it. All the FBI did was come to your home to ask some questions. You suffered no harm from that for which the law would give you any compensation. In short it boils down to a sort of "no harm, no foul" situation.

You might want to consult an attorney who practices in the area of civil rights and specifically the 2nd Amendment. There are a lot of gun laws, federal, state, and local, in this country. You won't know if what you outlined in the videos would amount to any crime if you actually did it until you've studied the applicable statutes, regulations, and court decisions. Given the severity of punishment attached to most crimes related to guns it's a good idea to consult an attorney so that you know exactly what you can and can't do in your state and locality. Paying a fee for the consultation will be well worth it if the advice spares from the consequences of doing something that you thought was legal but turned out to be illegal.
I don't know how they identified me I assume it was a i.p trace my name is not associated with my Reddit account no information aside from a email that also isn't associated with any personal information is attached to my Reddit account.. so i.p would be the only way to get my identity. My post were no different than every single other post in them subreddits which are all about 2a-3d builds. Everyone posting pics of their 3d printed firearms. so not much made my post stand out from thousands of others for them to pick me off a "called in tip" from a random reddit user is all they had. A tip that said I was possibly engaging in illegal activity. Doesn't seem like enough of a reason to dig deeper into the tip.. As for no harm yes it was just a few short minutes of simple questions questions I normally would not have answered but Feds at my door over nonsense I had to be 100% honest and upfront with them and admit to essentially creating a online persona for research purposes. I do believe thats the end of it they said they believe me thankfully my other online activity on Reddit backs up how I do research immersing myself in a community around whatever I'm looking into you 100% are treated differently when people in that community believe you to be At least somewhat experienced...still harm was done I have been falsely arrested/ charged more than once I have genuine trauma from that b.s so this has me very stressed out. Especially worried about a no knock warrant my dogs would be dogs and protect their home whch wouldn't end well.
 
Have you memorized the thousands of federal and state firearms laws?
Why would I need to? That's what a lawyer is for I did talk to one before hand. It's perfectly legal for a non-prohibited person to manufacture firearms for personal use in most states for sure mine. It's perfectly legal for a non-prohibited person to sell various firearm components... now that might be limited I know for sure it's legal for a non-prohibited person to customize & sell lowers and grips. Didn't bother looking into any other components being legal to sell because I had no intention on ever selling them. Just lowers & grips.

1 import fact I never actually printed a firearm nor have I ever sold a lower or grips.
 
That's odd. The BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms) is charged with firearms related crimes and enforcement.


These folks = ATF = Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives |

By the way, have you overlooked the following?
I actually think one was ATF 2 agents showed up but only 1 actually introduced himself and did most of the talking and he introduced himself as a FBI agent. The other guy never said he was FBI didn't even give me his name till later when I asked.
I'm assuming you mean pleading the 5th refusing to answer any questions that could possibly incriminate yourself. 100% my go to when dealing with local or even state cops. Feds on the other hand FBI specifically Do have significantly better training overall are typically better educated in general. The hiring process is a lot more difficult It's not like becoming a township police officer where all you need is a high school diploma and that's pretty much it my point dealing with FBI at my door over something I know for sure I'm not remotely guilty of I thought it best to fully cooperate and explain everything.
 
Yes.

You created a reasonable suspicion that a crime may be in progress.
How? Bye posting about printing guns in a 3d gun printing subreddit like thousands of other people do? My post were not anything new or out of the norm. 1 random person board or in a bad mood decided to report my post to the FBI. At which point they should have seen all my post and comments are perfectly legal for a non-prohibited person. i don't see how just off my post and comments they seen enough to get my identity.
 
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